Disposal cover for used feminine protection products

ABSTRACT

A disposal cover comprising a single sheet of flexible, fluid-impervious material with a tape fastening system applied to the sheets perimeters is disclosed. In the preferred embodiment, the sheet has two outwardly curved sides which taper toward two opposing ends. In use, a used sanitary item, either a pad or a tampon, is placed longitudinally in the center of the cover, and the curved sides and tapered ends are folded until they overlap, and then are fastened together with a tape fastening system. This results in the used sanitary item being completely concealed in a compact, sanitary package that can be easily and discreetly disposed of through the solid waste system.

The enclosed patent application is a divisional patent application ofthe patent application with the Ser. No. 09/489,814 of the filing dateof Jan. 24, 2000 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,402,727, and hereby claims thebenefit of this parent patent application of the Ser. No. 09/489,814 ofthe filing date of Jan. 24, 2000.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of Invention

This invention relates to sanitary disposal mechanisms, specifically toan improved disposal method for used sanitary napkins and tampons.

2. Prior Art

Proper disposal of used individual sanitary napkins and tampons isimportant for sanitary and discretionary purposes. Currently, there islittle available to facilitate disposal of such items. Attempts havebeen made through various inventions to remedy this problem of properdisposal. However, these inventions have not covered all of the disposalneeds relating to used feminine protection products.

Inventions have been created where the disposable wrapper for a sanitarypad is an inherent part of the pad. U.S. Pat. No. 4,692,162 to Binkerand Miranda (1987) and U.S. Pat. No. 4,581,027 to Alvarado (1986) bothdeploy such a method as does U.S. Pat. No. 3,035,578 to Elmore (1962).There are a number of disadvantages in approaching disposal in this way.These inventions can only be used with sanitary napkins, not withtampons. Also, the disposable wrapper, being attached to the undersideof the pad while the pad is being worn, has a possibility of becomingcovered with menstrual fluid from an overused or improperly placed pad,thus causing an unsanitary disposable wrapper. Also, the wrapper cannotbe produced as a separate product. These wrappers add another layer ofmaterial to the pad, making the pad bulkier and more uncomfortable.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,740,554 to Reed (1998) addresses this disposal problemwith a mitten device which is used to remove the tampon, then folds overthe used tampon, making it ready for disposal. This device is awkwardand time consuming to use. Also, there is a possibility of tearing,while the mitten is being pulled onto the user's hand, thus creatingholes in the disposable cover which would lead to leakage of menstrualfluid through the holes. This device can only be used with tampons.Also, this product would be more expensive and more difficult tomanufacture due to the various sections. (The device has four differentportions an index finger, a thumb, a mid-section, and a cuff portion.)The mitten shape could cause the sides to collapse together, making itdifficult and time consuming to open prior to inserting the used tampon.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,193,684 to McDonald (1993) discloses an invention for aTampon Disposal Unit. Here, an opening in a folded bag is placed over acavity, and as the tampon is withdrawn from the cavity into the bag, thebag unfolds longitudinally, then is sealed at the opening. This deviceexhibits many problems. Only tampons can be disposed of with thisappliance. All of its various parts lend to a more expensive, moredifficult manufacturing process. The complicated design and variousparts would cause confusion as to the proper use of the device. Thevarious steps needed to use this device, including proper placement ofthe device over the cavity, threading the tampon string through the holein the bottom of the bag, pulling the tampon into the bag withoutmisplacement, all contribute to the difficulty of using this device.Also, preventing leakage of menstrual fluid around the outside of thebag while withdrawing the tampon from the cavity would be verydifficult. Another attempt to aid the sanitary disposal of used feminineprotection products has been through inventions for disposable wastebags. U.S. Pat. No. 4,996,727 to Wyatt (1991) exhibits a bag which iscomprised of three layers of material and a handle. Aside from beingexpensive and difficult to manufacture, this device would be clumsy touse. This device would require the user to fit the used item into thebag, which could also result in messy residue around the opening. U.S.Pat. No. 4,765,477 to Froidh et al. (1988) discloses a wrapper for theclean sanitary article, which, after removed, can be used as a disposalbag for the used sanitary article. U.S. Pat. No. 5,484,636 to Berg, Jr.,et al. (1996) has a similar system with a pouch on the sanitary napkinwrapper which can be used for disposal of the used sanitary napkin afterthe clean pad is removed from the wrapper. Users typically remove anddiscard the soiled article prior to opening and inserting a cleanarticle. The user would have to remove the clean article to render thewrapper usable as a disposal device. The clean sanitary article wouldhave to be laid on a contaminated surface (sink, top of toilet, etc.)while disposing of the used article. Preparing the bag for disposal,removing the soiled article, wrapping it for disposal, and inserting theclean article, would be impossible without laying either the clean orsoiled article down on a surface. Laying a soiled article down wouldcontaminate the surface with bloody menstrual fluid. This creates a veryawkward situation for the user and decreases the probability that thedisposal bag would be used.

The plumbing system has also been a means for disposal of used tampons.Some users will flush their tampons down the toilet. However, this cannot be done with other solid waste in the toilet. And, the low watertoilets, which are the new standard, do clog with just a used tamponbeing flushed through the system. Sanitary pads cannot be disposed of inthis way.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention of a disposal cover for used feminine protectionitems, comprised of a flat piece of fluid-impervious, flexible materialwith a tape fastening system for securing perimeters of the materialtogether, exhibits the following objects and advantages. This inventionprovides a disposal cover for used feminine protection products which isfluid-impervious, with an optional scent to mask odors, which will allowthe used tampon or sanitary pad to be disposed of in a discreet andsanitary manner. This cover furnishes a means of disposal which is easyand convenient to use, and takes little time to manipulate. Thisinvention provides a disposal cover which is easy to prepare for use,and would afford the user a minimal number of steps to dispose of theused sanitary item. This disposal device can be temporarily attached tothe outside of the sanitary device wrapper or as a completely separateproduct apart from the sanitary device. This device provides a disposalmechanism which can be used for both pads and tampons. It would besimple and inexpensive to manufacture, thus creating an inexpensivedisposal item. This disposal cover will not become soiled on the outer(or second) surface of the cover since the used sanitary item only comesinto contact with the inner (or first) surface. Since sanitary napkinsbecome bulky after they absorb moisture, making the sanitary napkincompact by use of this cover would facilitate convenient, discreet, andefficient disposal of the sanitary napkin.

Further objects and advantages are to provide a discreet, efficientmeans of disposal for the used feminine protection item, so it will bemore readily disposed of through the solid waste system as opposed tothe plumbing system (which can become clogged). Also, during times ofelectrical power outage or water shortage, whether from emergency orother causes, the flushing of toilets would be limited. The inventionpresented here would provide a hygienic means of disposal, obviating theneed for flushing the used sanitary item down the toilet.

Still further objects and advantages will become apparent from aconsideration of the ensuing description and drawings.

DRAWING FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the first surface of a disposal cover with thesecond portions of the adhesive tapes positioned on release-treatedlanding surfaces on the top and side of the cover.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the second surface of a disposal cover with thefirst portions of the adhesive tapes positioned on the top and side ofthe cover.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a disposal cover with a first curved sidefolded over a used napkin.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the disposal cover of FIG. 3 with a secondcurved side opposite the first curved side folded over against andoverlapping the first side, the second side secured to the first sidewith an opened adhesive tape.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the disposal cover of FIG. 4 with the bottomtapered end of the cover folded up and over the end of the used femininenapkin.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the disposal cover of FIG. 5 with the toptapered end folded down and secured to the bottom tapered end with anopened adhesive tape so that the feminine napkin is completelyconcealed.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the disposal cover 10 includes a single,flexible, fluid-impervious, plastic sheet 12 having a first surface 14and a second surface 16. The sheet can be of any fluid-impervious,flexible material such as rubber, polyethylene, or the like. The sheet12 having a width and a length respectively greater than the width andthe length of the used sanitary item which is being disposed.

On the first surface 14 of the sheet (FIG. 1) at the top is the secondportion of a rectangular shaped tape 22 which can be of any flexiblepaper or plastic material. The underside of the tape, which faces thefirst surface of the sheet when folded downward, is coated with a stickyadhesive. The tape is folded down onto a complementary release-treatedlanding member 24. The landing member 24, which may be comprised of waxor silicone coated paper or the like, has the underside permanentlyaffixed to the first surface 14 of the sheet with hot melt glue or someother similar substance. The wax or silicone or other similar means ofcoating on the landing member allows the adhesive tape to be easilyseparated from the landing member's surface. The complementary landingmember 24 is slightly larger than the adhesive tape 22 so as to form aborder of release treated material around the adhesive tape 22 when theadhesive tape is folded down onto the landing member. This facilitatesthe release of the adhesive tape 22 from the landing member 24. Theadhesive on the underside of the tape 22 temporarily attaches the tapeto the landing member.

On the curved side of the sheet on the first surface 14 (FIG. 1) is thesecond portion of a rectangular shaped tape 28, which may be comprisedof a flexible paper or plastic material with a coating of adhesivematerial on the underside of the tape. The underside of the tape facesthe first surface of the sheet when folded downward. The adhesive tape28 is folded down onto a complementary release-treated landing member20. The landing member 20, which may be comprised of a wax or siliconetreated paper or the like, has the underside permanently affixed to thefirst surface of the sheet with hot melt glue or some other similarsubstance. The wax or silicone or other similar means of coating on thelanding member allows the adhesive tape to be easily separated from thelanding member's surface. The adhesive on the underside of the tape 28temporarily attaches the tape to the landing member. The landing member20 is slightly larger than the adhesive tape 28 which creates a borderof release treated material around the adhesive tape 28 when theadhesive tape is folded down and positioned onto the landing member 20.This enables a user to pull the adhesive tape away from the landingmember more easily.

On the second surface 16 of the sheet 12 (FIG. 2) at the top tapered endis the first portion of a rectangular shaped tape 26 which rests on thesecond surface of the sheet. The paper or plastic material comprisingthe first portion of the adhesive tape 26 is an elongated rectanglewhich extends above the top tapered end of the second surface of thesheet to become the second portion of the adhesive tape 22. The secondportion of the adhesive tape 22 is folded over the top tapered end andfolded downward, with the underside of the tape resting against thecontemporary landing member 24. The underside of the first portion ofthe tape 26 is permanently affixed with hot melt glue to the secondsurface 16 of the sheet of the cover. This first portion of the tape 26anchors the second portion of the adhesive tape 22 onto the disposalcover so that when the second portion of the adhesive tape 22 is pulledaway from the landing member 24, the adhesive tape cannot be pulled offthe sheet of the cover.

On the curved side of the sheet on the second surface 16 is the firstportion of a rectangular shaped tape 30 with the underside permanentlyaffixed with hot melt glue or the like to the second surface 16 of thesheet of the cover. The paper or plastic material comprising the firstportion of the adhesive tape 30 is an elongated rectangle which extendsbeyond the edge of the curved side of the second surface of the sheetand becomes the second portion of the adhesive tape 28. The secondportion of the adhesive tape is folded over the curved side and foldeddownward, with the underside of the tape resting against thecontemporary landing member 20. This first portion of the adhesive tape30 anchors the second portion of the adhesive tape 28 onto the disposalcover so that when the second portion of the adhesive tape 28 is pulledaway from the landing member 20, the adhesive tape cannot be pulled offthe sheet of the cover.

A number of advantages of my disposal cover become apparent from theabove description:

(a) Used feminine protection products can be completely concealed in acover which will not leak menses fluid, thus allowing the used feminineprotection item to be disposed of in a discreet and sanitary manner.

(b) A minimal number of steps are required to conceal the used tampon ornapkin, which contributes to the ease and efficiency of use.

(c) Due to the nature of this disposal cover, it can be temporarilyattached to the outside of the wrapper of an unused feminine protectionproduct or function as a separate product apart from the feminineprotection product.

(d) Exemplary sanitary items for disposing in this cover include tamponsand sanitary napkins.

(e) The second surface comprising the outer side of this cover will notbecome soiled with menses because it is not attached to a pad in use andbecause the second surface of the disposal cover does not come intocontact with the used item.

(f) The user will be less likely to use the plumbing system for disposal(which can be detrimental to the plumbing system) when provided with aquick, easy, and discreet means of disposing pads and tampons throughthe solid waste system.

Referring to FIGS. 3-6, using this cover to conceal used feminineprotection items is accomplished in, but not limited to, a series ofsequential steps.

To conceal a used feminine napkin, one begins the process as shown inFIG. 3 by doing the following: one lays the napkin 18 in the center ofthe first surface 14 of the sheet 12 along the longitudinal axis of thecover with each end of the feminine napkin adjacent to the tapered endsof the cover. Then the user folds the first curved side (the sidewithout the adhesive tape) of the sheet over the napkin so the edge ofthis first curved side of the cover lies in a parallel fashion above thelongitudinal axis of the center of the napkin. The adhesive tape 28 onthe complementary landing member 20, which is affixed to the firstsurface of the sheet on the second curved side, is pulled up, away fromthe landing member so as to expose the sticky underside of the adhesivetape.

The second step of the process of using this disposal cover isillustrated in FIG. 4. The mechanism of operation is described asfollows. The second curved side of the sheet opposite the first curvedside is folded over the exposed side of the feminine napkin and againstand overlapping the first curved side so as to cover the exposed surfaceof the used napkin along its longitudinal axis. After the second curvedside of the sheet overlaps the first curved side, the sticky surface onthe underside of the opened adhesive tab 30 is pressed against thesecond surface of the sheet on the vicinity of the first curved side tosecure the tape against the second surface of the sheet.

The third step of the process is shown in FIG. 5, and the proceduresinvolved in this third step are described as follows. The bottom taperedend of the cover, opposite to the top tapered end which contains theadhesive tape 22, is folded upward so that the bottom tapered end landsin the approximate center of the sheet of the cover, and the adhesivetape 22 is pulled upward, away from the landing member 24, so as toexpose the sticky surface on the underside of the adhesive tape.

The final step in using this disposal cover, as shown in FIG. 6,involves the following procedures. The top tapered end containing theopened adhesive tape is folded downward toward the approximate center ofthe sheet of the cover until the top tapered end overlaps the bottomtapered end (which is in a folded-up position), upon which the stickyunderside of the opened adhesive tape 26 is pressed against the secondsurface of the sheet at the bottom tapered end of the cover. Pressingthis sticky surface which is on the underside of the opened adhesivetape against the second surface 16 of the sheet secures the adhesivetape against the second surface of the sheet. The used feminine napkinis now completely concealed in a fluid-impervious cover, which is neatand compact. This discreet, sanitary package can be tossed into agarbage can or other solid waste disposal receptacle.

The above sequence of steps, as described for FIGS. 3 through 6 in whicha used napkin was concealed, are identical for concealing a used tampon.

Conclusion, Ramifications, and Scope

Accordingly, the reader can see that this invention of a sanitary covercan be used quickly and efficiently to enclose a used feminineprotection device inside a fluid-impervious barrier which will allow fordiscreet, hygienic disposal of the item in the solid waste system.

Although the description of the invention in this application containsmany specificities, these should not be construed as limiting the scopeof the invention but as merely providing illustrations of some of thepresently preferred embodiments of this invention. A plurality ofmodifications are conceivable within the use of the patent claims. Forexample, the disposal cover can be sealed in a number of ways. Thedisposal cover can have a variety of shapes, such as circular, oval,rectangular, etc. The disposal cover can be made of variousliquid-impervious materials such as plastic, rubber, or the like. Thedisposal cover can have a range of sizes and thicknesses, which can becustomized to what is required to properly accommodate the used sanitaryitem, whether it be a pad or a tampon.

Thus the scope of the invention should be determined by the appendedclaims and their legal equivalents, rather then by the examples given.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of disposing of a used feminine sanitaryitem, comprising the steps of: (a) providing a disposal cover, saiddisposal cover comprising a single sheet having a first surface and asecond surface, said sheet having a width and a length respectivelygreater than a width and a length of said used feminine sanitary itemand including means for fastening disposed along a perimeter of saidsheet, and (b) placing said used feminine sanitary item on said firstsurface, and (c) folding a first outwardly curved perimeter of saiddisposal cover over said used feminine sanitary item, and (d) folding asecond outwardly curved perimeter of said disposal cover over remainingexposed portion of said used feminine sanitary item, and (e) securingsaid first outwardly curved perimeter and said second outwardly curvedperimeter together by means of a fastening system, and (f) folding afirst tapered end of said disposal cover over bottom half of said usedfeminine sanitary item, and (g) folding a second tapered end over tophalf of said used feminine sanitary item, and (h) securing said firsttapered end to said second tapered end by means of said fasteningsystem, whereby said used feminine sanitary item will be concealed bysaid disposal cover.
 2. The disposal cover of claim 1 wherein said sheetcomprises two sides, each said side defining an outwardly curvedperimeter of said sheet.
 3. The disposal cover of claim 1 wherein saidsheet is elliptical in shape.
 4. The disposal cover of claim 1 whereinsaid sheet tapers toward a first end and tapers toward a second end. 5.The disposal cover of claim 1 wherein said sheet is made ofsubstantially nonabsorbent material.
 6. The disposal cover of claim 1wherein said sheet is made of nontransparent material.
 7. The disposalcover of claim 1 wherein said disposal cover is unattached to an unusedfeminine sanitary item.